big-shot
Person of clout
A big-shot is an important or influential person, often someone with power in business, politics, or entertainment.
The term carries a faint whiff of skepticism or resentment—calling someone a big-shot suggests they may be self-important or that their status is being viewed from below: Some big-shot executive flew in from New York.
Also spelled as one word: bigshot.
Notable, for short
- mogulInfluential industry leader
- tycoonDominant industrial leader
- magnateWealthy business leader
- baronLow-ranking peer
bigwig · heavyweight · high-roller · kingpin · fat-cat · hotshot · somebody · personage
Successful through own efforts
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- innovatorCreator of new methods
- leaderOne who guides others
founder · CEO · executive · chairman · president · director · chief · boss
Wielder of political influence
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- rainmakerBusiness-generating executive
- moverOne who transports belongings
- shakerVessel for mixing drinks
wheeler-dealer · fixer · operator · dealmaker · insider · networker · gatekeeper · string-puller
Person possessing great wealth
- billionairePerson worth ten figures
- plutocratRuler through wealth
- oligarchMember of small ruling class
- capitalistPrivate ownership supporter
industrialist · financier · entrepreneur · robber-baron · moneybags · affluent · jet-setter · penthouse
Exaggerating one's own significance
- pompousAffectedly grand in manner
- high-and-mightyCondescendingly self-important
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
- smugExcessively self-satisfied
swaggering · boastful · egotistical · puffed-up · show-off · blowhard · braggart · name-dropper
VIP
Notable, for short
baron · bigwig · heavyweight · high-roller · kingpin · fat-cat · hotshot · somebody · personage · notable
self-made
Successful through own efforts
- pioneerEarly explorer or settler
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- innovatorCreator of new methods
leader · founder · CEO · executive · chairman · president · director · chief · boss · trailblazer
powerbroker
Wielder of political influence
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- rainmakerBusiness-generating executive
- moverOne who transports belongings
shaker · wheeler-dealer · fixer · operator · dealmaker · insider · networker · gatekeeper · string-puller · decision-maker
millionaire
Person possessing great wealth
- billionairePerson worth ten figures
- plutocratRuler through wealth
- oligarchMember of small ruling class
capitalist · industrialist · financier · entrepreneur · robber-baron · moneybags · affluent · jet-setter · penthouse · yacht
self-important
Exaggerating one's own significance
- pompousAffectedly grand in manner
- high-and-mightyCondescendingly self-important
- conceitedExcessively proud of oneself
smug · swaggering · boastful · egotistical · puffed-up · show-off · blowhard · braggart · name-dropper · pretentious
big-shotnobody
Inconsequential person
nonentity · small fry · little guy · nobody special · lightweight
big, bigger, biggest, shot, shots, shoot, shooting, shooter, shooters